#astilbe

[blooming-lenses]

something purple 2025/08/10

[deepgrotto]

The Hunger Games Tarot - Major Arcana

8. Strength: Gale Hawthorne

Stability, courage, compassion, conflict, struggle

[teenythorntail]

Mr cutesie patootsie

[adventuresofalgy]

Yet another storm to the south of Britain had brought heavy rain all night, and in the morning Algy discovered that the world was exceedingly wet again. But of course that was not the slightest bit unusual in the wild west Highlands of Scotland, and despite the excessive humidity, he was glad to find that the day was pleasantly calm.

Hopping over to the smaller of the two ponds in his assistants' garden, Algy settled down on a mossy stone at the water's edge, to see what might be happening there. The plants around the pond told a rambling tale of a winter of stormy weather, in a cacophany of battered red and green vegetation tangling here and there and every which way, but the pond itself looked vibrant and healthy, and Algy suspected that although it might perhaps not win human awards for the smartest garden, the many wee creatures which relied upon this seemingly chaotic environment were probably content.

It was certainly peaceful and soothing to perch by the side of the water and try to gaze into its depths, even though he could detect no obvious activity, and Algy wondered idly what the pond was doing:

Wobbling like a wobbly jelly Being a bucket for the rain Sending flash-backs to the sun Cheeking the sky Giving the moon a bath Letting swans, ducks and winter leaves ride on its back Licking the lollipop reeds Pretending to be soup for the wind to stir Growing stinky skunk cabbages Drawing wheels and circles then rubbing them out Plopping slopping slurping spinning Turning the weeping willows happily upside down Dreaming of running away to sea Hiding under a starry blanket of dark What is the pond doing? Ponding. Responding.

[Algy is thinking of the poem What is the Pond Doing? by the contemporary English poet and children's author Diana Hendry.]

[geopsych]

Collage of happy things. 💖 If you want names, ask.

[outdoormagic]

Astilbe

[aibouart]

there he is, your honour. the guy w the cute and big forehead

(he/they)

[vintagehomecollection]

Beth Chatto is of course well known for her sensitivity when handling plants. Hosta, Rogersia, Trollius and Astilbe all combine to form a delightfulv combination in an essentially damp area.

Creative Gardens, 1986